Transmission Rebuild - Disbelief

mrHUGE

New member
So I got a quote for my transmission to be rebuilt...$2500 upwards to $3500. It is only a few months old to me and it is killing me. There is only 103k on the transmission but the overdrive just stopped working in an instant. I installed a 70268 B&M cooler on it less than 2 weeks into ownership. Is it worth a flush and refill or 2 to see if it helps? I had the pan dropped and refilled what came out with Valvoline Max Life ATF. Should I try a different ATF? Is all for naught? Please help me out with my depression. :nono:
 
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I am not sure how to advise you other then contact IPT transmissions. They are on the East Coast and seem to be the Guru's when it comes to these autos. They have built them for 1/4 mile drag and other race applications. One of their guys is on Yotatech with user name Transdude. Wish you luck.
 
So I got a quote for my transmission to be rebuilt...$2500 upwards to $3500. It is only a few months old to me and it is killing me. There is only 103k on the transmission but the overdrive just stopped working in an instant. I installed a 70268 B&M cooler on it less than 2 weeks into ownership. Is it worth a flush and refill or 2 to see if it helps? I had the pan dropped and refilled what came out with Valvoline Max Life ATF. Should I try a different ATF? Is all for naught? Please help me out with my depression. :nono:

That is way too much. I think you should be able to get a used or reman transmission for 2500 or less. Try getting quotes from transmission shops instead of a dealer, like Pikeman said.

Can you give us more details on what went wrong?

Where are you and what year/model do you have?

Don't get depressed yet. You may need to spend some money, but at worst it should be much less than 3k.
 
The 4runner is a 2001 SR5 4x4. I hadn't noticed ANY slipping, hard-shifts, etc. I drove it to work ~8 miles in the morning. No issues. I left work for lunch -it was a fairly cold day ~25 degrees and lots of wind. I pulled onto the highway and noticed I was running near 3k rpms. From then on, I have not had OD. I did run the 4runner in manual shift mode and it still wouldn't engage OD. Thank you for any suggestions again, this is a fantastic community.
 
The 4runner is a 2001 SR5 4x4. I hadn't noticed ANY slipping, hard-shifts, etc. I drove it to work ~8 miles in the morning. No issues. I left work for lunch -it was a fairly cold day ~25 degrees and lots of wind. I pulled onto the highway and noticed I was running near 3k rpms. From then on, I have not had OD. I did run the 4runner in manual shift mode and it still wouldn't engage OD. Thank you for any suggestions again, this is a fantastic community.

Does the light still stay on in your dash when you press the O/D button? It might just be the switch on the shifter, not the tranny.
 
Unfortunately the O/D light does stay on. Is there any possibility that the shifter somehow is in "2" while the ECU thinks it is in "D" ? I do have a p0755 code which refers solenoid B aka 2 but that has all been checked out and solenoids don't have any effect on the transmission when in manual shift mode. p0755 occurs when the transmission is not in the gear it should be in. If you don't mind more questions, is it normal for push button 4x4 not to engage when there is a CEL?
 
Unfortunately the O/D light does stay on. Is there any possibility that the shifter somehow is in "2" while the ECU thinks it is in "D" ? I do have a p0755 code which refers solenoid B aka 2 but that has all been checked out and solenoids don't have any effect on the transmission when in manual shift mode. p0755 occurs when the transmission is not in the gear it should be in. If you don't mind more questions, is it normal for push button 4x4 not to engage when there is a CEL?

So is it just your O/D that's not working or does it not even shift past 2nd? This last post makes it sound like all you have is L and 2. Does it upshift to a 3rd gear when you're in D? O/D is the 4th gear. What I was saying earlier is, the fact that the light stays on with O/D engaged may mean it's just the O/D switch. But if you're not even going into D, then replace the solenoid.

It's not normal for the push button 4x4 to not engage with a CEL on. More reason to think there's a problem with the switches in the tranny shifter (maybe in addition to the solenoid). There's probably a loose connection.
 
So is it just your O/D that's not working or does it not even shift past 2nd? This last post makes it sound like all you have is L and 2. Does it upshift to a 3rd gear when you're in D? O/D is the 4th gear. What I was saying earlier is, the fact that the light stays on with O/D engaged may mean it's just the O/D switch. But if you're not even going into D, then replace the solenoid.

It's not normal for the push button 4x4 to not engage with a CEL on. More reason to think there's a problem with the switches in the tranny shifter (maybe in addition to the solenoid). There's probably a loose connection.

Thanks for being so responsive Brian. The transmission drives in D fine with the exception of OD. It hits 1-3 gears just fine and there is torque converter lockup at about 48mph or so. I have checked out the electrical as far as the Solenoids go and the only thing strange is the SL solenoid only activates with the harness plugged in. The other solenoids activate whether or not the harness is plugged into the ecu. I am not an electrical whiz or anything near it so I'm not sure whats going on there. I guess i should mention I have replaced the suspect solenoid on a whim with no results.
 
Unfortunately the O/D light does stay on. Is there any possibility that the shifter somehow is in "2" while the ECU thinks it is in "D" ? I do have a p0755 code which refers solenoid B aka 2 but that has all been checked out and solenoids don't have any effect on the transmission when in manual shift mode. p0755 occurs when the transmission is not in the gear it should be in. If you don't mind more questions, is it normal for push button 4x4 not to engage when there is a CEL?

Wait, I am confused, the O/D light is on? The O/D dash on light means O/D is off doesn't it? In fact, my 2000 light actually says "O/D OFF" Did they change that to opposite for 01-02? I doubt they would, because O/D on is the standard mode.

If you are pressing the O/D button and the light is staying on, then it sounds like the button is broken. Or am I missing something here?
 
Yes, Nelson. That's the way ours is. OD off light.

Also, isn't there a temp sensor to the ECU that could keep the tranny from engaging OD?
 
Yes, Nelson. That's the way ours is. OD off light.

Also, isn't there a temp sensor to the ECU that could keep the tranny from engaging OD?

Yes, the temp sensor prevents the tranny from shifting into O/D until operating tempature. It

A: Helps the transmission warm up faster

and

B: Promotes longer life by being in operating tempature a higher precent of the time.

I have a 2002. When the O/D light is on on the dash it means O/D is off. And vice versa.

Kurtis
 
Yeah the temp sensor could keep it from shifting into O/D but not when it is ran in manual shift mode. When I disconnect the wire harness on the outside of the tranny I believe the tranny is no longer connected to the ECU for shifting purposes.
 
Yeah the temp sensor could keep it from shifting into O/D but not when it is ran in manual shift mode. When I disconnect the wire harness on the outside of the tranny I believe the tranny is no longer connected to the ECU for shifting purposes.

I just don't get what you are saying. It is impossible to use O/D in "manual shift mode". If by that you mean that you're moving the shifter from L to 2.?? Once you put it in D, you're not in "manual shift mode" anymore. The O/D only works in D "mode". And if the light's not going off and the tranny isn't switching into a 4th gear, then IT'S PROBABLY YOUR O/D SWITCH (like I said earlier - at least it's a very good possibility). I don't believe a bad temp sensor is going to affect the O/D light on the dash.

Put it in D and get going about 50-60 mph, then push the O/D button. What happens?
 
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:iagree:I'm with Brian. I hope it's the switch, for your sake. Do the 55mph O/D switch test to see what happens. Light should go out and trans should shift to O/D (4th) and then the converter will hit lock up dropping a couple hundred RPM. You should be able to hit this O/D switch sitting in park and any gear period and still get the O/D light on the dash to illuminate.
 
Ok, let me start out by saying sorry for confusing everyone. When I am referring to manual shift mode, I have disconnected the wiring harness from the transmission. This means when the shifter is in L, the 4runner will be in 1st. When the shifter is in 2, the 4runner will be in 3rd. When the shifter is in D, the 4runner will be in O/D.

To answer Brian:
When I press the O/D button, the light will go off and the revs don't change - ( i think they might even go up a few hundred rpm). The only discernable difference is when driving with the O/D off (light on) at 50mph, the rpms drop to 1500 when I let off the gas. When driving with the OD on (light off) at 50mph, the rpms drop to 1000. It also feels like it has to shift back into gear when I press on the gas.
 
Ok, let me start out by saying sorry for confusing everyone. When I am referring to manual shift mode, I have disconnected the wiring harness from the transmission. This means when the shifter is in L, the 4runner will be in 1st. When the shifter is in 2, the 4runner will be in 3rd. When the shifter is in D, the 4runner will be in O/D.

To answer Brian:
When I press the O/D button, the light will go off and the revs don't change - ( i think they might even go up a few hundred rpm). The only discernable difference is when driving with the O/D off (light on) at 50mph, the rpms drop to 1500 when I let off the gas. When driving with the OD on (light off) at 50mph, the rpms drop to 1000. It also feels like it has to shift back into gear when I press on the gas.

If you set the cruise control at 50mph you should be turning about 1500 rpm's when O/D is working and on somewhat flat land. If at 50mph and you set cruise and it's closer to around 2000 the OD isn't working. This is not only my 4runner but one we have at work, almost same rpm's.

Maxil
 
I am running about 2000 rpms while driving 50 mph so obviously I'm missing my O/D. I did have a obd tool hooked to it and the ecu was telling me I was in O/D. It looks like the O/D switch is just fine. I'm still hoping its not the O/D that went belly up.
 
A340 Transmission

I have successfully repaired a A340F transmission and I remember that the OD is just behind the pump. My point is that if the other 3 gears are good then a drop and repair may be feasable assuming you've ruled out temp sensor circuit, solenoid viability, etc.. The OD drum rides on a couple of brittle rings that seal it and they would be suspect. However, I belive I would start with the valve body before removing the transmission. One little sliver of aluminum can block or prevent movement. You may want to figure out the cost to pull and clean the valve body followed by a drop to inspect the OD assembly and then a R&R of a reman trans which is about $2000- $2500 if my memory serves me correctly.
Just my $0.02
 
Just got a call from the mechanic. He pulled the valve body inspected it and cleaned it up but no results. The issue remains. He mentioned he didn't pull the valves out, only checked their freedom of movement. Is this standard?
 
Its a bad solenoid. No doubt in my mind. Change out the 3rd-OD solenoid. A solenoid is cheap. Hell you could even isolate it by swapping it with another one since they are all identical anyway.

Just because it isn't throwing a code for the correct one doesn't mean it isn't the culprit. This is a pretty common issue with the A340 tranny. I wrote this several years ago, but it still applies to these models:
Support Groups for Toyotaholics - A340 Transmission issues and FAQs
 

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